Single stick boat control



April 16, 1963 R. R. SHAY SINGLE STICK BOAT CONTROL Filed Sept. 6. 1960 klunfllu.

INVENTOR. ROBERT R. SHAY BY 2 797 ATTORNEY 3,085,447 Patented Apr. 16, 1963 3,085,447 SINGLE STICK BOAT CONTROL Robert R. Shay, 4188 Ray-Mar Court, Rte. 1,

. Ousted, Mich. Filed Sept. 6, 1960, Ser. No. 54,147 2 Claims. (Cl. 74-471) This invention relates to marine accessories and has particular reference to an integrated device for steering an outboard motorboat and controlling the speed and direction of the boat.

Although I have herein indicated its use for outboard motorboats, it will be understood that I also intend to use it for inboard boats as well, where hydraulic or electrical means are used to shift the gears or move the rudder.

An object of the invention is to simplify the controls for power boats by providing in one manually operated device, the means for steering the boat, the means for shifting the gears, and the means for throttling the engine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a single stick for controlling the power boat, which is centrally located in the boat, so that the control of the boat may easily be transferred from person to person, without the necessity of the operators shifting positions in the boat.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character indicated, which is easily controlled by one hand, so that the operator of the boat has the other hand free at all times for holding a fish line or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character indicated, which is very stable, that is it will remain in any manually adjusted position, without danger of being moved by the vibration of the motor, thrust, or other forces.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character indicated, which is constructed and arranged so that its linkage is easily adjusted to compensate for wear, or the accommodation of different size motors and the like.

Another object of the invention is to generally improve boat controls and to provide a device of the character indicated, which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture and one which may readily be applied to any boat, regardless of make, model or power equipment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character indicated, which provides various safety factors in that, with its use it is easier to learn to operate, easier to control the boat, especially in an emergency, andthe boat is-much more maneuverable at all times. 7

The foregoing and other objects and the advantages of the invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds, reference being made from time to time to the accompanying drawing, forming part of the within disclosure in which drawing:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a conventional outboard motorboat, which is equipped with a device embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the device embodying the invention taken substantially on the line 2-2 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 3 is a rear end view of the device and is taken substantially on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the device taken substantially on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detail, in elevation, and illustrates in larger portion, some of the working parts of the device illustrated in FIG. 3.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, it will be understood that in the embodiment herein disclosed, the reference character 7, indicates the hull of a conventional boat having seats 8, 9, and 10, and a transom 11, to which is pivotably mounted an outboard motor 12, which is to be controlled by means of the device embodying the invention. The device embodying the invention provides the boat, through the outboard motor 12, with remote control steering, forward and reverse drive, and throttle control as hereinafter described.

The device embodying the invention is generally indicated with the reference character 13, and is pivoted, as at 14 and 15, to brackets 16 and 17 (FIG. 2), which brackets are secured by any suitable means to a mounting plate 18, which is preferably secured to the floor 19, of the boat. The member 13, is pivoted for port and starboard movement on the pivots 14 and 15. The member 13, has secured to its opposite sides the steering cables 20 and 21, which cables 20 and 21 are arranged to pass through pulleys 22 and 23, secured to the floor of the boat, and pulleys 24 and 25, which are secured to the sides of the boat, and pulleys 26 and 27, which are secured to suitable brackets 28 and 29, secured to the outboard motor 12. To the ends of the respective cables 20 and 21 are secured expansion springs 30 and 31, which are in turn secured to the sides of the boat, so that upon the swinging of the member 13 from port to starboard, the cables 20 and 21 will cause a corresponding opposite movement of the outboard motor 12, on its pivot 32. The member 13, is rocked from portside to starboard on the pivots 14 and 15 by means of a handle 33. This comprises the steering mechanism for the boat.

The member 13, consists of a pair of matched plates 13A and 13B (FIGS. 3, 4, and 5), which are secured, in spaced relation, by means of a plurality of bolts 34 (FIG. 2). The plates 13A and 1313 also serve as the supporting and housing means for certain of the working parts hereinafter described. The handle 33 is thread- 1y secured, as at 36, to the end of an arm 37, which is in the form of a tubular member, which is pivoted, as at 38, to the plates 13A and 13B. The tubular member 37 is slotted, as at 39 (FIG. 2), in whichslot is received the cam members 40 and 41. The cam member 40 is pivoted, as at 42, to the plates 13A and 13B. Additional pivot points 42A and 42B are provided so that the throw of the cam member 40, may be varied. 'The free end 43, of the cam member 40, is secured to a push-pull wire 44, which slides in a housing 45, the latter being secured to a bracket 46, which is secured, as at 47, to one or both of the plates 13A and 13B. The push-pull action of the wire 45, actuates the throttle (not shown) of the outboard motor 12. The push-pull action of the wire 44 is effected by the forward and backward movement of the tubular member 37, as hereinafter explained. Mounted for reciprocation inside the tubular member 37 is a plunger 48, which is spring-backed as at 49, the spring being retained in the member 37 by means of the threaded extension 50, formed on the handle 33. Pivoted as at 51, to the lower end of the plunger 48, is a cam roller 52, which rides on the top of the cam member 40. A second cam roller 53, is pivoted as at 54, to the tubular member 37 and rides against the bottom of the cam member 40. Thus, it will be seen that upon rocking the tubular member 37 on the pivot 38, an up and down motion will be efiected on the cam member 40, which in turn will effect the push-pull action on the wire 44. This is the throttle control for the outboard motor 12.

The cam member 41 is pivoted as at 55, to the plates 13A and 13B so that the member 41, may rock in the directions indicated by the arrows in FIG. 2. The rocking action of the member 41 is effected by means of a cam roller '56, which is pivoted, as at 57, to the lower end of the tubular member 37. The roller 56, is arranged to contact the cam surfaces 58 and 59 to cause the rocking action of the cam member 41 on the pivot 55. The

, action on the wire 44, which opens the throttle in turn is'secur-ed' to one or both' of the'plates' 13A'and" 13B as at'63. The push-pull action of the rod 61 effects the forward-and reverse action of theoutboard mot-or 12.

Secured to the-outside of the plate13B is an ignition and starting switch -64, which is connected through a cable 6'5 to the ignition system of the outboard motor 12, whereby the electrical system of the outboard motor 12, may be controlled.

From the foregoing it will be seen'that I have embodied in a unitary mechanism the means for steering the boat, shifting the gears, and controlling the speed of the motor.

In operating the device the motor 112, is first started by turning the ignition and starting switch 64. When the motor is first started the tubular member 37, rests in a vertical position, as shown in FIG. 2. In this position of. the lever 37, the gears of'the outboard motor are in neutral. The forward movement of the tubular member 37 causes the forward movement of the lower end of the cam member 41, which actuates the pull wire 61 toshift the motor into forward gear. The same forward move-' ment of the tubular member 37 also causesthe pulling giving greater speed to the motor 12.

The rearward movement of the tubular member 37, from the neutral position shown in FIG.'2, causes the opposite movement of the-cam members 40 and 41 to effect the engagement of the reverse gears and the operation of:

the throttle of the engine. The cam surfaces on the cam member 40 are of such shape as to effect a dwell in the operation of the throttle, as the member 37 is moved slightly forward and reverse of the neutral'position shown in FIG; 2, sothat when the tubular member 37 is in' full forward position the'throttle on the engine 12, will be wide open, and when the member 37 is in the fullreverse position, the engine 12 will be operating at approximately half throttle.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have devised a novel single stick mechanism for steering, shifting gears, and controlling the throttle of an outboard motorboat.

It will be understood that-the device just described could also be used to control an inboard motorboat, with little modification, either through mechanical linkage or hydraulic controls. 7

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A power b'oat control device comprising'a member pivoted at one end tosaid boat and arranged for port and starboard movement, cables connecting said member tothe steering mechanism of said-boat, a lever pivoted to said-first named member and arranged for forward and backward movement with respect to said first named member, cammed members pivoted to said first named member, each said cammed member being linked to a push-pull mechanism, one of which push-pull mechanisms being connected to the gear shift mechanism of the power boat, and'the'other of 'said'push-pull' mechanisms 'being connected to the throttle of said power boat, and means on said lever for actuating said cammed members; said first named pivoted member consisting of a pair of spaced matched plates, and said lever consisting of a slotted tubularzmember positioned between said plates, the said cammed members and.the means for actuating said cammed members being received in the slot formed in said lever.

2. A power boat control device comprising a member pivoted atone .end to said boat and arranged for port and starboard movement, cables connecting said member to the steering mechanism of said boat, a lever-pivoted to' said first named member andarranged for forward and backward movement with respect to said first named member, cammed members pivoted to said first named member, each saidcammed member being linked to a push-pull mechanism, one of 'which push-pull mechanisms being connected to the gear shift mechanism of the power boat, and the other of said push-pull mechanisms being connected to the throttle of said power boat, and means on said lever for actuating said cammed members; said first named pivoted member consisting of a pair of spaced matched plates, and said lever consisting of a slotted tubular member pivoted at one end between said plates, apair of spaced rollers pivoted in said slotted member, one of said cammed members being a curved arm pivoted at one end to at least one of said plates and extending through said slotted member and between said rollers, the free end of said curved arm being secured to the said push-pull mechanism which is connected to the throttleof saidpower boat, a third roller pivoted at the lower end of said tubul-ar member, said third roller being positioned inside ofandarranged to ride on the insidet faces of a V-shaped cammed member, the latter being the other above cammed member andpivoted to at least' 01 one ofsaid plates, thetlower end of said last named cammed member being secured to the said push-pull mechanism which is secured to the said forward andreverse mechanism of said powerboat.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 638,331 Grant Dec. 5, 1899 1,308,997 Simmons July 8, 1919 2,321,098 Morse June 8, 1943 2,348,022 Owens May 2, 1944 2,409,231 Waite Oct. 15, 1946 2,526,946 Hawkins Oct. 24, 1950 2,867,131 Schroeder Jan. 6, 1959 2,949,093 Smith Aug. 16, 1960 2,967,436 Steinlein Jan. 10, 1961 

1. A POWER BOAT CONTROL DEVICE COMPRISING A MEMBER PIVOTED AT ONE END TO SAID BOAT AND ARRANGED FOR PORT AND STARBOARD MOVEMENT, CABLES CONNECTING SAID MEMBER TO THE STEERING MECHANISM OF SAID BOAT, A LEVER PIVOTED TO SAID FIRST NAMED MEMBER AND ARRANGED FOR FORWARD AND BACKWARD MOVEMENT WITH RESPECT TO SAID FIRST NAMED MEMBER, CAMMED MEMBERS PIVOTED TO SAID FIRST NAMED MEMBER, EACH SAID CAMMED MEMBER BEING LINKED TO A PUSH-PULL MECHANISM, ONE OF WHICH PUSH-PULL MECHANISMS BEING CONNECTED TO THE GEAR SHIFT MECHANISM OF THE POWER BOAT, AND THE OTHER OF SAID PUSH-PULL MECHANISMS BEING CONNECTED TO THE THROTTLE OF SAID POWER BOAT, AND MEANS ON SAID LEVER FOR ACTUATING SAID CAMMED MEMBERS; SAID FIRST NAMED PIVOTED MEMBER CONSISTING OF A PAIR OF SPACED MATCHED PLATES, AND SAID LEVER CONSISTING OF A SLOTTED TUBULAR MEMBER POSITIONED BETWEEN SAID PLATES, THE SAID CAMMED MEMBERS AND THE MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID 